Political student groups make final push to attract youth vote

Classes. Dorms. Tables. Bars. Greek houses. Concerts.

With 10 days left until deadline, college organizers are using every method they can to register voters in Monroe County.

Both the IU College Democrats and the IU College Republicans are preparing for a final push in the days before Indiana’s Oct. 6 voter registration deadline.

Both groups are making voter registration a top priority this election.

“We have a voice, and we need to act upon it,” said junior Pat Buschman, secretary of the IU College Republicans.

The IU Democrats set a goal of registering 10,000 students, said junior Ranger Mack. As of Wednesday night they had registered about 6,700 students, but Mack said he is confident the group will make its goal.

Mack said Thursday was a “classroom blitz” day, where students went to lecture halls and handed out registration forms. He said most large lecture classes consist of freshmen and sophomores who have probably not voted before.

Justin Hill, political director of IU College Republicans, agreed that classes are the best way to reach students. He said in class they aren’t in a hurry to go somewhere and can take the time to fill out the forms.

Both groups are using events – such as actor Kal Penn, known for his starring role in “Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle,”  speaking at a Democracy Matters event at 4 p.m. Sunday in Dunn Meadow – as ways to register big groups of students.

Voter registration is one area where the usual opponents become allies.

“We have our differences, but we do come together on the issue of voter registration,” said junior Alexa Lopez, membership director of the IU College Democrats.

Now that Indiana is considered by some to be a swing state, Democrats are encouraging out-of-state students to register in Indiana.

“The importance of this state in this election makes is essential that they vote here in Indiana in the elections,” Mack said.

While Buschman acknowledged that students tend to vote Democratic, he said that doesn’t change anything.

“I’m glad just to see that everybody is getting interested in the political process,” Buschman said. “The more people who vote for the first time, the more people will get involved in the next election.”

Buschman said democracy relies upon citizen participation.

“The more people who are involved, the better this country is going to be,” Buschman said. “We’re founded on these principles in a way.”